Breaking Point

The days after Quinn's birthday dragged on, heavy with tension and unspoken words. Despite Michael's kind gesture of taking her out and reminding her of her worth, the weight of Leo's neglect remained. It wasn't just his indifference to her birthday, it was everything. His cold stares, dismissive tone, and the rumors swirling about him and Sofia Grant. The whispers had grown louder, and the humiliation had become unbearable.

The morning was quiet except for the faint clinking of silverware as Quinn sat across from Leo at the dining table. He was scrolling through his phone, barely acknowledging her presence. The air between them was icy, and Quinn felt the frustration bubbling beneath her calm facade. 

She set her teacup down and cleared her throat. "Leo… can we talk?" 

Without looking up, he replied curtly, "I'm busy." 

Her patience wore thin. "You're always busy, Leo. Can you look at me for one minute?" 

He sighed, finally raising his eyes from his phone, his expression blank. "What is it, Quinn?" 

Her chest tightened, but she held her ground. "What's going on between you and Sofia?" 

At the mention of Sofia's name, Leo's expression darkened. He leaned back in his chair, his lips curling into a faint smirk. "What does it matter to you?" 

Her stomach twisted at his mocking tone. "It matters because I'm your wife. And the entire city is talking about you two as if I don't exist." 

Leo scoffed, setting his phone down. "The *entire city*? Don't be dramatic, Quinn. People will talk about anything. That doesn't mean it's true." 

Quinn's voice rose, trembling with anger. "But you're not denying it, are you? You're letting them think whatever they want because you don't care how it affects me. Do you even realize how humiliated I feel?" 

Leo stood abruptly, the scrape of his chair against the floor echoing in the room. He loomed over her, his expression icy. "Maybe you shouldn't care so much about what people think. Or maybe," he added with a cruel smirk, "you should stop acting like a victim in a situation you forced." 

Her eyes widened. "I forced this? How dare you!" 

"You're the one who wanted this marriage," he snapped. "Don't act like you didn't know exactly what you were getting into." 

Quinn shot to her feet, her voice trembling with fury. "I wanted this marriage because I believed we could build something together. But you've done nothing but push me away and parade around with Sofia as if I don't exist!" 

Leo's jaw tightened, but he said nothing. 

"And for what, Leo?" she continued, her chest heaving. "To punish me for something I didn't even do? To make me feel small because you're too much of a coward to admit you're the problem?" 

"Enough!" Leo barked, his voice sharp. He grabbed his jacket from the chair. "I don't have time for this." 

"Of course you don't," she spat. "You never do. You only have time for Sofia, don't you?" 

He stopped at the doorway and turned, his expression unreadable. "Don't act like you didn't know what this was, Quinn. You're just as much to blame for this farce as I am." 

And with that, he walked out, leaving her standing in the dining room, her heart shattered. 

The next morning,

Quinn threw herself into work, desperate to distract herself from the argument. But no matter how hard she tried to focus, the rumors surrounding Leo and Sofia followed her like a shadow. 

Every news site, every social media platform seemed to have the same story: 

"Leo Langston and Sofia Grant: Power Couple in the Making?"

The photos stung the most. Sofia, laughing with Leo at a restaurant. Sofia, her hand brushing his arm as they exited a car together. The images were casual yet intimate, as if they were trying to mock her. 

Mia entered Quinn's office, her expression cautious. "Mrs. Langston… have you seen the news today?" 

Quinn sighed heavily, leaning back in her chair. "I've seen it, Mia." 

Her secretary hesitated before speaking again. "Do you want me to draft a response? Something to address the rumors?" 

"No," Quinn said firmly. "It'll only make things worse." 

Mia nodded, her concern evident. "If there's anything you need—" 

"I'll let you know," Quinn interrupted gently, offering a faint smile. "Thank you, Mia." 

The mansion was dimly lit when Quinn returned that evening. She stepped inside, her heels clicking softly against the marble floor. She half-hoped Leo would already be asleep, but as she entered the living room, she saw him sitting on the couch, scrolling through his phone as if nothing had happened. 

Her blood boiled. She couldn't take the silence anymore. 

"Leo." 

He didn't look up. 

"Leo!" she repeated, her voice louder this time. 

He finally glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. "What now?" 

Quinn stepped closer, her fists clenched. "I'm done pretending like everything is fine. I'm done letting you humiliate me." 

Leo set his phone down, leaning back lazily. "Are you planning to leave, then? Finally?" 

The coldness of his words struck her like a slap, but she refused to let him see her falter. "Don't you care, Leo? Even a little?" 

He shrugged. "Why should I? You're the one who wanted this marriage, Quinn. You wanted the Langston name, the prestige. So don't cry to me when it's not what you imagined." 

Her voice cracked as she replied, "You think I married you for the Langston name? I married you because I thought…" 

She stopped herself, shaking her head. "Never mind. It doesn't matter anymore." 

Leo's expression didn't change. "Good. Then stop wasting my time." He grabbed his jacket and stood. 

"Going to see Sofia?" Quinn asked bitterly. 

He turned at the door, his gaze sharp. "Who I see is none of your business." 

And with that, he walked out, slamming the door behind him. 

The silence that followed was suffocating. Quinn sank onto the couch, trembling with anger and hurt. She had endured so much, his indifference, his cruelty, the endless rumors and now she felt like she was drowning. 

For the first time, she realized she couldn't do this anymore. 

Grabbing her coat and handbag, she stormed out of the mansion. 

"Where to, ma'am?" the driver asked nervously as she climbed into the car. 

"Just drive," she said quietly, staring out the window as tears streamed down her face.